African refugees: don’t send us to death

We fled our country because of repression, hunger and wars. We came here with our children and wives looking for safety. We are living with Algerians in peace. We found in your country generosity, kindness and tranquillity. We do not have any other place to go to. If we go back to our homeland, we will die. We want to work and we beg money to survive. We can bear dirt and diseases but we can not bear killings, conflicts and injustice in our country. Those sad words were said by African refugees, in response to calls for their departure on Facebook.

Echorouk met with many African refugees who were afraid and concerned about calls for their departure on social media. They beg money on the streets, saying they did not find jobs. 

Asked about their presence in Algeria, they said they fled hunger, poverty, repression, wars and injustice. Most of them are between 16 and 25. They wear kamis and most of them come from Niger and Mali. They are gathered in tribes and groups and take bridges and workshops and shelters. 

They told Echorouk they live in peace in Algeria and they do not commit any wrongdoing.

We prefer to die rather than going back home

Some young Africans said they came from Niger and have been in Algeria for a year. Sometimes, they work in workshops in return for daily wages estimated at 2,000 DZ. When  their work contract expires, they beg money.

The oldest one, Tawn, said his town in Niger experiences hunger and poverty due to conflicts between tribes. 

He added that he can paint and worked in many construction workshops.

Asked about calls for their departure, he said they prefer to get killed rather to go back home.

“We came here to be safe and protect our children and wives. We were told that Algeria is the best country. Its people are peaceful and kind.”

We are peaceful and Muslim

Next to a metro station in Algiers, a group of African refugees told Echorouk they are Muslim and come from Niger. They pray in mosques with Algerians, learn the Quran and prefer to work rather than to beg money.

Speaking about some violent acts committed by a number of African illegal immigrants in Algeria, they said they are individual acts and criminals should be punished.

“We are peaceful. We do not like troubles. We are your guests. Algeria hosted us and offered us the opportunity to live and be safe,” they said.

They explain why they came to Algeria on Facebook

Internet users circulated videos of a number of Africans who preferred to talk to Algerians via Facebook. They explained reasons behind their presence in Algeria. They gave shocking information about the situation of their country. Of them, a 40-year-old man said he came from Mali where his people suffer repression and injustice.

“Kicking out Africans from Algeria means sending them to death. We live in peace with Algerians. We preferred living with dirt and garbage rather than going back home. Algeria protects us and we want authorities not to obey to our rulers’ call. We do not like begging money. We prefer to work but we have to beg money to survive. We did not come to Algeria for tourism neither for cheating people. We came here looking for peace and safety. The Algerian people welcomed us. In our country, our people die. Our tribes are oppressed and killed. We fled injustice and death,” he said.

Algerians show solidarity with refugees in their way

A number of Algerians preferred to post pictures to show solidarity with African refugees, in response to calls for their departure. 

Many Internet users post their pictures with refugees on the streets, markets and mosques Some of them organized collective dinners for refugees.